JPH1120507A - Pointer afterimage display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clarify the position, the moving direction, change of the moving state of a pointer and change of the moving state of a moving body by controlling to display fixed afterimage according to change of the moving state of the pointer of a device moving the pointer corresponding to the measured quantity and displaying the measured quantity cooperating with a scale such as letter or sign added to a dial. SOLUTION: At rise of a pointer 3, the rate of change of the pointer 3 is searched for by the set value of a preceding reference position, and when afterimage can be displayed by three gradations of light intensity, a high gradation, a middle gradation, and a low gradation are searched for from set reference, and the afterimage display position by three gradations and the light intensity gradation of the segment are decided. When afterimage can not be displayed by three gradations and two gradations, it is decided by one gradation light intensity. Up to a fixed speed, the afterimage is displayed by green, in the case of exceeding it, it is displayed by red, and display color can call a driver's attention to safety so as to mean safety by green display and danger by red display. The position, the moving direction, change of the moving state of the pointer, and change of the moving state of a moving body are displayed and clarified by afterimage control, and hence visibility can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an afterimage display device such as an instrument and a pointing device, and more particularly to a display device such as an instrument and a pointing device. The present invention relates to a pointer afterimage display device suitable for a display device for displaying a value of a measured amount such as an engine speed or a change in a motion state such as a rate of change thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an instrument such as a speedometer or a tachometer of a moving body such as a vehicle, a pointer 3 is provided at the center of a dial 10 of the instrument as shown in FIG. A scale 2 is arranged near the upper part. Although not shown, it is known that the pointer 3 is rotated by the movement by a measured amount corresponding to the vehicle speed or the number of revolutions of the engine. The display device includes a case for fixing and storing the dial 10 and the movement,
And a front glass that protects the hands 3 on the dial 10.

[0003] In a display device of an instrument, parts such as characters and graduations on the dial are translucent and the other parts are non-translucent, so that light incident from the back side of the dial at night can be used. An instrument that allows characters and scales to be visually recognized on the translucent characters and scales on the dial, and an instrument that can be viewed by illuminating from the front side of the dial. In addition, there is known an instrument or the like in which light from an illumination light source is reflected to guide light to the pointer itself to improve visibility.

[0004]

In the conventional instrument as described above, the characters, scales and the like on the dial are monochromatic, and are illuminated at night, through transmission or irradiation. Since there is no change in the display such as the scale and the like, the moving state of the hands is sensed visually, and at the same time, the change in the moving state of a moving body such as a vehicle is also sensed.

According to the present invention, an indicator capable of clearly indicating a position of a pointer, a moving direction of the pointer, a change in a moving state of the pointer, and a change in a moving state of a moving body by displaying a predetermined afterimage on the pointer. It is an object to provide an afterimage display device such as a pointing device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pointer is moved in accordance with a measured amount and cooperates with a scale such as a character or a symbol attached to a dial. In a display device such as an instrument or an indicator for displaying a measured amount, a predetermined afterimage is displayed according to a change in the movement state of the pointer, and afterimage display means for displaying the predetermined residual image on the pointer, and the afterimage display means And afterimage display control means for performing control for displaying the predetermined afterimage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a color at the time of displaying an afterimage is displayed in a single color or a plurality of colors.
Here, when the display time changes, the color of the afterimage changes to another single color,
Alternatively, it includes a case where the color is changed to a plurality of colors.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is claim 1 or 2.
In the invention described above, the predetermined afterimage is displayed with the brightness gradually attenuated in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the hands in accordance with the movement of the hands.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the invention described above, the predetermined afterimage is displayed by changing a display shape in accordance with a movement state change such as a value of a measured amount or a rate of change thereof.

[0010] The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the invention described, the predetermined afterimage is a value of a measurement amount,
Alternatively, the display shape is changed according to a change in the movement state such as the rate of change, and brightness is sequentially attenuated in a direction opposite to the movement direction of the hands, and the display is performed.

[0011] The invention according to claim 6 is based on claims 1 and 2,
3. The invention according to 3, 4, or 5, further characterized in that the predetermined afterimage is displayed by a change in color according to the movement of the pointer.

[0012] The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claims 1 and 2,
7. The invention according to 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the afterimage display means has a plurality of segments arranged in the moving direction of the hands, and the afterimage display control means uses the position where the hands have moved as a reference. Control is performed such that a predetermined afterimage is displayed in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the pointer. The segment is one of management of an area used for controlling afterimage display, and is a unit obtained by dividing the afterimage display unit into an arbitrary block. Further, if the afterimage display means can control the display for each segment, even if the segment itself is a light emitting body, the segment is made to emit light by making light incident on the segment from one or a plurality of light sources. It may be. Here, the means of the invention described in claim 7 includes:
The afterimage display means having a plurality of segments arranged in the moving direction of the hands controls the segments located in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the hands, based on the position where the hands have moved, to display the afterimage. Means all means to do so.

[0013]

Next, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram of an instrument employing a pointer image persistence display device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an afterimage display embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a pointer afterimage display device of the present invention in an instrument will be described. The pointer afterimage display device is a dial 1
A predetermined scale 2 is arranged on the surface of the dial 1 and a pointer 3 driven in accordance with the measured amount is arranged at the center of the dial 1. The afterimage display means 4 is an area between the display scale of the dial 1 and the center. . Here, the afterimage display means 4 may be arranged in a region between the scale portion and the center of the dial 1, but in order to improve the display effect, the region from the scale portion to the center of the dial is preferably as small as possible. It is desirable to use as much as possible.

When the pointer 3 is moved, when the segment corresponding to the position of the pointer 3 is used as a reference, the display of the segment is controlled in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the pointer 3 to realize the afterimage display of the pointer 3. . In addition, by changing the configuration of the number of segments, the size of the segment unit, the number of displayed segments, and the like of the afterimage display means 4 and changing the afterimage display control, it is possible to display the afterimage when the pointer 3 is moved with various displays. can do.

In FIG. 2, the afterimage display means 4 is segmented for each segment. However, this is an example of the embodiment, and it is not necessary to segment for each segment if the segments can be distinguished.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a case where a prism is used for the afterimage display means 4, and the outline of FIG. 3 will be described below.
The dial 1 is composed of an opaque material, the scale 2 is composed of a transparent material, and the afterimage display means 4 is arranged such that the prism 5 and the LED 6 correspond individually to each segment arranged in the moving direction of the hands 3. Are located. Adjacent prisms 5 are provided for each segment so that the light does not interfere with each other.
It is divided by. Thereby, the display of light and dark can be clarified. The LED 6 is arranged on the substrate 8 on which the movement 9 for driving the hands 3 is arranged so as to be parallel to the incident surface 5a of the prism 5. By doing so, the board for controlling the LED 6 and the movement 9 can be integrated.

The reason why the prism 5 is used is that, depending on the structure, a small amount of light can be diffused so that light can be guided over a wide range. Therefore, another light guide material is used, or no light guide material is used. It is also possible to arrange a luminophore substance on the surface. Also, the LED6 is used because
This is because the unit price is low and the luminous intensity can be adjusted, and other luminous substances such as semiconductors can be used.

In the present embodiment, the display device of the present invention is applied to a vehicle meter such as a speedometer and a tachometer.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of the pointer image persistence display device in the embodiment of FIG. 4, and includes a rotation sensor 11 for converting rotation of a transmission or the like into an electric circuit signal (pulse signal), and a waveform shaping of the pulse signal. Waveform shaping circuit 12, movement driving unit 14, and LED driving unit 1
5 comprises a microprocessor (MPU) 13 for controlling the MPU 5. The RAM of the MPU 13 stores the measurement results,
The MPU 13 has work areas M0 to M4 for managing data such as position information and an area for temporarily storing position data for display. The ROM of the MPU 13 has a control program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the segment configuration of the afterimage display means 4 in the embodiment of FIG. 4. The threshold values between the segments when the afterimage display means 4 is divided into n are A (0) to A (n). This is an example in which each segment value is assigned from L (0) to L (n-1), and the segment value is a continuous positive number.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the MPU in the embodiment of FIG. 4, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart when the display shape of the afterimage is changed from the range of the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart in the case where the display shape of the afterimage is changed and the range from the flowchart of FIG. 8 is displayed by changing the brightness and the color.

Hereinafter, the display of the afterimage as shown in FIG.
A case where the afterimage is displayed in three gradations of high gradation, middle gradation, and low gradation in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the pointer 3 with the position of the pointer 3 as a reference and not including a reference segment. The operation of the embodiment will be described.

The display of the reference segment may or may not include the reference segment. However, when the display is performed with the reference segment included, depending on the position of the pointer, the position of the pointer may be changed depending on the position of the pointer. Since an afterimage may be displayed beyond the pointer in the traveling direction, it is desirable to display the image without including a reference segment from the viewpoint of visibility.

When using the pointer afterimage display device, first,
The MPU 13 sets an initial value in the work area (S
1) The pulse signal converted by the rotation sensor 11 is
It is shaped by the waveform shaping circuit 12 and input to the MPU 13, where the speed of the moving body is calculated.

That is, the pulse signal input to the MPU 13 is measured in a rotation speed measurement process (S2), the measurement result is set in the work area M1 (S3), and the movement driving unit 14 drives the movement based on the measurement result. The process (S4) is performed.

Thereafter, it is determined which segment contains the measurement result from the threshold value between the segments, and the segment value is set in the work area M2. A (0) or more A
(1) It is determined whether or not it is included in a smaller range (S
5) If included, the segment value L is stored in the work area M2.
(0) is set (S6). If it is not included, it is determined whether or not it is included in the next range A (1) or more and smaller than A (2) (S7). If it is included, the segment value L ( 1) is set (S8).
If it is not included, the determination processing of the next range and the processing are performed until the range can be detected. Since the afterimage display means 4 is divided into n as shown in FIG. 7, the last range of this processing is a range that is equal to or larger than A (n−2) and smaller than A (n−1). , The work area M
2 is set to the segment value L (n-2) (S10). If the segment value is not included, the segment value L (n-2) is set in the work area M2.
(N-1) is set (S11).

The value obtained in the work area M2 in the above-described processing is a reference indicating the position where the pointer 3 has moved, and the value of the work area M2 and the value set in the work area M0 as the previous reference are set. It is determined whether the pointer 3 has risen or has fallen by comparing the values with the values (S12).

If it is determined in step 12 that the pointer 3 has been raised, a process is performed to determine whether to display an afterimage (S1).
3) In the case where afterimage display by three gradations of light and dark is possible, three segments to be displayed and the high gradation, the middle gradation, and the low gradation, which are the luminosity of each segment, are determined. Further, since the afterimage display does not include a reference, a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the reference set in the work area M2 is a high gradation (M2-1), and a value obtained by subtracting 2 is a medium gradation (M2-2). , 3 minus the low gradation (M2
-3), that is, the high gradation is the first segment in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the pointer 3 from the reference segment,
The middle gradation is the second segment and the low gradation is the third segment, and the afterimage display position and the light and dark gradation of the segment are determined (S14).

The three segments determined in the process S14 are displayed by the LED driving unit 15, which is a known technique, on the three segments of the afterimage display means 4, so that the afterimage is displayed when the pointer 3 moves. It is realized (S15).
In this case, it is assumed that the LED 6 is turned off automatically in a fixed time, but it is not necessary to turn off the LED 6 automatically when using a control unit in consideration of turning off.

If it is determined in step S12 that the pointer 3 has not changed or has fallen, the afterimage display means 4
Is not performed.

In step S16, the current reference information set in the work area M2 is set in the work area M0 for the reference of the next rise of the hand 3 regardless of the result of the determination in step S12.

The series of processing from S2 to S16 is executed in an arbitrary cycle unit. Only when the pointer 3 rises, the afterimage display means 4 displays the three gradations of high gradation, middle gradation and low gradation. An afterimage due to fixed light and dark can be displayed.

Further, the display device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may include the following display modes.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the afterimage display using light and dark with three gradations fixed. However, the basic method of controlling the afterimage display does not change even if the number of light and dark display gradations is changed. The performance of the segments that make up each other differs. This means that a segment or a structure capable of displaying the number of display gradations must be used for the segments of the afterimage display means 4. However, there is an advantage that the afterimage display can be more effectively expressed by increasing the number of light and dark display gradations.

Next, in the case where the afterimage is to be displayed in a single color or a plurality of colors, a description will be given in the above embodiment. For example, the afterimage display means is a segment capable of displaying three primary colors as used in a color television. By adding a process for selecting an arbitrary color just before the process S14 in the flowchart of FIG. 8, it is possible to realize a single-color or multiple-color afterimage display.

Next, a case where the shape of the afterimage display is changed according to the change of the pointer 3 will be described. When the range from the previous position of the pointer 3 to the position of the pointer 3 after the movement of the pointer 3 is to be displayed as an afterimage of a single color when the pointer 3 is moved up, as described in the above embodiment, the flowchart of FIG. By replacing the processing in the range of with the processing from S21 to S23 shown in the flowchart of FIG.
The moving range portion of the pointer 3 can be displayed as an afterimage in a single color.

The processing from S1 to S12 is as described above. If it is determined in step S12 that the pointer 3 has risen, the processing from S21 to S23 is executed. Processing S2
In step 1, the afterimage display start segment position (M2-1) is obtained by subtracting 1 from the reference set in the work area M2 in the above-described processing, and is set in the work area M3. Processing S
At 22, since the previous reference position of the pointer 3 set in the work area M0 corresponds to the afterimage display end segment position, the value of the work area M0 is set as the afterimage display end segment position in the work area M4. In process S23, the afterimage display segment area is determined from the afterimage display end segment position set in work area M4 and the afterimage display start segment position set in work area M3.
15 allows the after image display of the moving range portion of the pointer 3 to be displayed in a single color. As described above, by changing the display shape of the afterimage in accordance with the change in the movement state of the pointer 3, it is possible to improve the visibility particularly regarding the change in the movement state of the pointer 3 and the change in the movement state of the moving body.

Next, based on the previous position of the pointer 3 and the position of the pointer 3 after the movement, the rate of change of the pointer 3 when moving up is obtained. When the rate of change is large, the afterimage is displayed in a wide range. If the rate of change is small, it will be displayed in a narrow range,
In the above-described embodiment, a description will be given of the after-image display with three gradations of light and dark when the image is displayed by changing the shape of the after-image according to the change rate of the pointer 3. Also in this case, the processing of the range from the flowchart of FIG.
By replacing the processing from S31 to S40 shown in the flowchart of FIG.

The processing from S1 to S12 is as described above. If it is determined in step S12 that the pointer 3 has risen, the processing from step S31 is executed. In the process 31, the change rate of the pointer 3 is calculated based on the value set in the work area M0 as the previous reference position of the pointer 3 from the reference set in the work area M2 in the above-described processing. Set to M3. In the process S32, it is determined from the rate of change set in the work area M3 whether or not an afterimage display with three gradations of light and dark is possible, and if possible, from the reference set in the work area M2 in the process S33. , High gradation (M2
-1), a middle gradation (M2-2), and a low gradation (M2-3) are determined to determine an afterimage display position by three gradations and a light / dark gradation of the segment. If the afterimage display by three gradations is not possible, it is determined in step S34 whether the afterimage display by two gradations is possible, and if possible, the work area M2 is set in step S35. By determining the high gradation (M2-1) and the middle gradation (M2-2) from the reference, the afterimage display position by two gradations and the light and dark gradation of the segment are determined. When it is impossible to display an afterimage by two gradations, one gradation (high gradation)
Is determined, and a high gradation (M2-1) is obtained from the reference set in the work area M2 in step S36.
The after-image display position based on the gradation and the gradation of the segment are determined. In this explanation, since the color of the afterimage does not change,
The determination of the change in color in the process S37 indicates that there is no change, and in the process S15, it is possible to display a three-gradation variable bright / dark image corresponding to the change rate of the pointer 3.

Next, taking a speedometer as an example,
By design so that afterimages up to 99 km / h are displayed in green and over 100 km / h, afterimages are displayed in red. When the afterimage display is green, it is safe. When the afterimage display is red, it is safe. The afterimage display can be given a signal-like effect to indicate danger, and a change in the color of the display can prompt the driver to pay attention to safety.

Such an example will be described with reference to the above-mentioned three-gradation variable after-image display based on the change rate of the pointer 3 described above. In this case, a color change is added such that the afterimage is displayed in green or red according to the moving state of the pointer 3. Therefore, two LEDs 6 of different colors or one chip with two chips are provided for one prism 5. By changing the configuration to the LED 6, it is possible to control the switching of the color of the segment display.

Also in this case, by replacing the processing in the range from the flowchart of FIG. 8 with the processing of S31 to S40 shown in the flowchart of FIG.
3 can be changed in brightness and darkness in accordance with the rate of change of movement, and afterimages can be displayed by changes in color. S1 to S12 in FIG.
And the processes from S31 to S36 in FIG. 10 are as described above. Since there is a change in the color of the afterimage display in the determination process of the process S37, the determination process of the color of the afterimage display in the process S38 is performed. Since the afterimage is displayed in red when the speed exceeds 1 to 99 km / h, it is determined whether the determination condition in step S38 is 99 km / h or less.
More specifically, the current reference information set in the work area M2 is stored in the RAM of the MPU 13 at a speed of 99 km / km.
h is determined to be equal to or less than the corresponding segment information. 99k
If m / h or less, the color of the segment is determined to be green in step S39, and if it exceeds 100 km / h, step S4 is performed.
A value of 0 determines the color of the segment to be red. Based on the information, the process S15 can display three gradations of variable brightness and a residual image due to a change in color in accordance with the change rate of the pointer 3.

Further, even in a region where the afterimage is normally displayed in green from 0 to 99 km / h, when the pointer 3 moves rapidly upward, the display is changed from green to red for the purpose of caution, and the display is safe. Performance can be improved.

In this case, this can be realized by adding the following process immediately before the process S39 in FIG. Processing S3
1, the change rate of the pointer 3 set in the work area M3 and the MPU
It is determined whether the movement of the pointer 3 is abruptly increased by determining whether or not the dangerous change rate stored in the RAM 13 and serving as a reference for the rapid increase of the pointer 3 is exceeded. If it is determined that it is not a sharp rise, the color of the segment is determined to be green in step S39, and if it is determined that it is a sharp rise, the color of the segment is determined to be red in step S40. Based on the information, the process S15 can display three gradations of variable brightness and a residual image due to a change in color in accordance with the change rate of the pointer 3.

As is clear from the above description of the embodiment, the MPU 13 constitutes an afterimage display control means for controlling the afterimage display means to display a predetermined afterimage.

In the above embodiment, the display device of the pointer which moves in a circular orbit has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to the display device of the pointer which moves left and right or up and down. Applicable.

The afterimage display mode of the present invention is not limited to each mode, and the afterimage display control means can be changed to various different means depending on the purpose. Furthermore, the pointer afterimage display device of the present invention is not limited to a gauge for a moving body such as a vehicle, but can be applied to various gauges and display devices such as a pointer that conventionally use a pointer.

Further, when a liquid crystal display or the like is used for the dial, finer afterimages can be displayed, and an effect as an interior can be obtained. Furthermore, since the pointers are also displayed on the liquid crystal, components in the prior art such as the mechanical movement and the front glass can be eliminated, so that the display device can be made thinner, lighter and simpler.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the position of the hands and the movement of the hands can be improved by using a structure capable of displaying an afterimage on an instrument, a pointing device, or the like, and a means for controlling the afterimage using the structure. By displaying the direction, the movement state change of the pointer, and the movement state change of the moving object with an afterimage, it is possible to clearly show the pointer, and to realize a pointer afterimage display device that can further improve visibility. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an instrument employing a pointer image persistence display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of an afterimage display unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the afterimage display embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a conventional meter device.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a pointer afterimage display device in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a segment configuration of an afterimage display unit in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by an MPU in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

9 is a flowchart in the case where the display shape of the afterimage is changed from the part of the flowchart of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a part of the flowchart of FIG.
11 is a flowchart in a case where a display shape of an afterimage is changed and a display based on a change in light and dark and a color is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dial 2 Scale 3 Pointer 4 Afterimage display means 13 Microprocessor (afterimage display control means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A display device, such as an instrument or an indicator, for moving a pointer according to a measured amount and displaying the measured amount in cooperation with a scale such as a character or a symbol attached to a dial, and moving the pointer. An afterimage display unit that displays a predetermined afterimage in accordance with a state change and displays the predetermined afterimage on the hands, and an afterimage display control unit that performs control to display the predetermined afterimage on the afterimage display unit. An afterimage display device for hands. 2. The pointer afterimage display device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined afterimage is displayed in a single color or a plurality of colors when displayed. 3. The pointer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined afterimage is displayed with the brightness gradually attenuated in a direction opposite to a direction in which the pointer moves in accordance with the movement of the pointer. Afterimage display device. 4. The pointer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined afterimage is displayed by changing a display shape in accordance with a change in a moving state such as a value of a measured amount or a rate of change thereof. Afterimage display device. 5. The predetermined afterimage changes a display shape in accordance with a change in a moving state such as a value of a measured amount or a change rate thereof, and attenuates brightness sequentially in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the pointer. 2. The display according to claim 1,
Or the indicator afterimage display device according to 2. 6. The pointer afterimage display according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined afterimage is displayed by a change in color according to a change in a movement state of the pointer. apparatus. 7. The afterimage display means has a plurality of segments arranged in the movement direction of the hands, and the afterimage display control means determines the movement direction of the hands based on the position where the hands have moved. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control is such that a predetermined afterimage is displayed in the opposite direction.
4. An indicator afterimage display device according to 4, 5, or 6.